Vanquish Message Board

Bayonetta. Virtua Fighter 5. Vanquish. These are all Sega games that must receive PC ports, according to a petition born out of a Twitter campaign from last December.Read more...

We did a gallery on the most awesome continue screens a few weeks ago, so it's only fair that we give their complement—start menus and title screens—the same treatment. Starting off at the top there is Xenoblade Chronicles, one of the best title screen experiences, especially when you've got the music on. But let's continue in a chronological order and start with iconic title screens from the 8-bit and 16-bit era, finishing up the list with more recent games. We handpicked these based on screens that had some amazing (or hypnotic, ahem Zombies Ate My Neighbours) animation, action or just set the right mood. Let's dig in. The Legend of Zelda (1986) Kamen Rider Club (1988) Dogfight Spirit (1988) The Revenge of Shinobi (1989) Super Mario Kart (1992) Ultimate Air Combat (1992) Secret of Mana (1993) Zombies Ate My Neighbours (1993) Super Metroid (1994) The Incredible Hulk (1994) Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) Chrono Trigger (1995) Final Fantasy VII (1997) Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) Metroid Prime (2002) Half-Life 2 (2004) Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) Brütal Legend (2009) Wet (2009) Vanquish (2010) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011) There are other good ones out there! Storm the comments and post your picks! sources: BrotherhoodOutcast, TheNightRune, Classic Video Game Title Screens, NeoGAF, Please Press Start, NES Title Screens, Tidal Tempest To contact the author of this post, write to gergovas@kotaku.com

U.S. Presidents—fictional or not—have a major impact on video games. When a game has something to do with the United States, there's a good chance the Commander-in-Chief is gonna show up. We gathered a few remarkable U.S. President cameos below. Most of them are goofy, but there are a few serious appearances, too. Here we go. Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja (1988) The president is in a good mood after being kidnapped in Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja, and although he looks a bit older in the arcade port (here), compared to the NES version (up top), he's still having fun. Who doesn't like burgers? Vanquish (2010) The fictional female President of The United States Elizabeth Winters has a hard time dealing with those pesky Russians in Vanquish. Resident Evil 6 (2012) There isn't the faintest hope for Adam Bedford, the president in the alternate 2013 game of the Resident Evil universe. Destroy All Humans! (2005) President Huffman's brain is placed into a giant mecha to fight the Furon invasion (well, you can't blame them, the game is set in the 50s). Sid Meier's Colonization (1994) You can spot George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (and a few other famous faces from US history) in the "Founding Fathers" screen of Sid Meier's Colonization. NBA Jam (1993, 2010) It became a tradition to include U.S. Presidents as unlockable secret characters in the NBA Jam games, which famously featured Bill Clinton in the 1993 game, and George Bush and Barack Obama in the 2010 remake. Madden '11 (2010) Obama also appeared in the Madden series (first in Madden '11), but his appearance isn't as exciting as in NBA Jam. Metal Gear Solid series (1998-) Solidus aka George Sears was elected as the youngest U.S. President at only 28 years of age. He's designed to age rapidly, so the public thought he is much older than he was. BONUS: Metal Gear Rising (2013) Solidus Snake might be the coolest fictional U.S. President in a video game, but surely Metal Gear Rising's Senator Armstrong is the coolest, most badass fictional senator. Someone missing from our list? Submit your picks in the comments below! sources: kinkoman24, jhoung, Metal Gear Wiki, Resident Evil Wiki To contact the author of this post, write to gergovas@kotaku.com

Every time I post a review of a boutique gaming PC, someone in the comments has to mention that they could build a similar machine themselves for less money. That's still true for Digital Storm's newly-launched Vanquish line of gaming PCs, but it's a narrow truth — we're talking $20 to $60 narrow. Digital Storm's more expensive systems can run upwards of $8,000. Those premium systems are for hobbyists with money to burn. Then there's the Bolt, a custom-engineered slimline system aimed at people looking to pay a premium for a small footprint. The Vanquish line, as far as I can tell, is for people that just want a damn gaming PC. It's a box with a window that runs computer applications and games, the only concession to flash a pair of red LED lights in the bottom of the case. Inside there are name-brand components, exactly the sort of name-brand components you can purchase at a place like Newegg.com. In fact, to prove their price point, Digital Storm went ahead and priced out each of the four Vanquish models as parts at the online retailer's website. The low-end Vanquish is $38 more than parts. The high-end, which I've been trying out for the past week, is $58 more. That's $58 worth of assembly, testing, warranty and lifetime tech support. As far as I'm concerned, Digital Storm made its point right there. I don't even know why I was sent a system to try out for the past week. Maybe they wanted me to make a video. Not quite as comprehensive and informative as their own, but I'm just a guy sitting in front of a computer desk, asking it to love me. I could discuss performance, noting that the Intel Core i7 3770K 3.50 GHz processor and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 6600 Ti, while not my first choice of CPU and graphics card, did an admirable job of playing the games I'm likely to be seen playing these days. It ran Tomb Raider on ultra at 68 frames-per-second, BioShock Infinite at 82 and Shogun 2: Total War at a respectable 64 on highest settings. It's not a machine meant to break land-speed graphics records, but it's a damn fine starting point with plenty of room to expand. It's exactly the sort of system I would build if I still had the time or inclination to make my PC gaming a little more personal. I could also show you this really cool picture of the cooling pipes bathed in red LED light. Digital Storm's aim with the Vanquish line is to end the age-old DIY Vs. pre-built debate. It will not do that, not because it doesn't deliver what it promises, but because folks that build themselves PCs can always go to eBay or one of the hundreds of discount online stores with websites from the late 90s and find bargains. The Vanquish will not likely silence them. What the Vanquish can do make those that would rather not build their own PC an excellent system backed by warranty and support that feels like a system they could have put together themselves, because they certainly could of. The Vanquish line is available for purchase now at Digital Storm.

Every time I post a review of a boutique gaming PC, someone in the comments has to mention that they could build a similar machine themselves for less money. That's still true for Digital Storm's newly-launched Vanquish line of gaming PCs, but it's a narrow truth — we're talking $20 to $60 narrow. Digital Storm's more expensive systems can run upwards of $8,000. Those premium systems are for hobbyists with money to burn. Then there's the Bolt, a custom-engineered slimline system aimed at people looking to pay a premium for a small footprint. The Vanquish line, as far as I can tell, is for people that just want a damn gaming PC. It's a box with a window that runs computer applications and games, the only concession to flash a pair of red LED lights in the bottom of the case. Inside there are name-brand components, exactly the sort of name-brand components you can purchase at a place like Newegg.com. In fact, to prove their price point, Digital Storm went ahead and priced out each of the four Vanquish models as parts at the online retailer's website. The low-end Vanquish is $38 more than parts. The high-end, which I've been trying out for the past week, is $58 more. That's $58 worth of assembly, testing, warranty and lifetime tech support. As far as I'm concerned, Digital Storm made its point right there. I don't even know why I was sent a system to try out for the past week. Maybe they wanted me to make a video. Not quite as comprehensive and informative as their own, but I'm just a guy sitting in front of a computer desk, asking it to love me. I could discuss performance, noting that the Intel Core i7 3770K 3.50 GHz processor and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 6600 Ti, while not my first choice of CPU and graphics card, did an admirable job of playing the games I'm likely to be seen playing these days. It ran Tomb Raider on ultra at 68 frames-per-second, BioShock Infinite at 82 and Shogun 2: Total War at a respectable 64 on highest settings. It's not a machine meant to break land-speed graphics records, but it's a damn fine starting point with plenty of room to expand. It's exactly the sort of system I would build if I still had the time or inclination to make my PC gaming a little more personal. I could also show you this really cool picture of the cooling pipes bathed in red LED light. Digital Storm's aim with the Vanquish line is to end the age-old DIY Vs. pre-built debate. It will not do that, not because it doesn't deliver what it promises, but because folks that build themselves PCs can always go to eBay or one of the hundreds of discount online stores with websites from the late 90s and find bargains. The Vanquish will not likely silence them. What the Vanquish can do make those that would rather not build their own PC an excellent system backed by warranty and support that feels like a system they could have put together themselves, because they certainly could of. The Vanquish line is available for purchase now at Digital Storm.

We’ve got a monster update to the Instant Game Collection today as not one, but two fantastic games are coming to PS Plus members for free! By now, you’ve got your hands on last week’s addition: Closure. Dungeon Defenders is still free in PlayStation Plus, and has a PS3 Community XP Event coming up this Thursday (register here for more info).

With tomorrow’s PlayStation Store Update, you’ll be able to download Vanquish and Mega Man Maverick Hunter X free if you’re a PS Plus member. We’ve got more including special content for Dust 514, and a launch week discount; so without further ado, let’s get to the goods.

Don’t have PlayStation Plus? Go to the PlayStation Store on your PS3 or PS Vita or click here to get access via the Sony Entertainment Network online store.

February 19th PlayStation Plus Update

Vanquish (PS3)

PSN Price: $19.99, Free for PS Plus members

Celebrate the release of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance by playing one of Platinum’s finest action titles: Vanquish. The same studio that’s bringing you Raiden this week, also delivered one of the finest sci-fi shooters in Vanquish. Check out its fast and fluid combat system, experience the visceral melee combat, and download this PS3 Full Game free as a PS Plus member.

Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (PSP and PS Vita Compatible)

PSN Price: $9.99, Free for PS Plus members

An enhanced remake of the classic Mega Man X, complete with 3D character models, remixed music, and all new unlockable features, this is classic Mega Man turned up to 11. When Sigma leads a group of Reploids in a revolt against mankind, it’s up to X and Zero to protect the world from ruin. You can download this title free as a PS Plus member and play it on your PS Vita, or PSP.

Dust 514 Starter Pack

PSN Price: $9.99, Free for PS Plus members

DUST 514 brings intense infantry combat, large-scale warfare, and deep character advancement to a free-to-play massively multiplayer shooter. Wage war in the next generation of first-person shooters, where a single victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire of thousands of online EVE Online gamers. While the game is still in its beta phase, you can take advantage of this free Starter Pack. Remember, additional content you purchase in Dust 514 while it’s in beta will be carried over to your account when the game sees its full release. You can download Dust 514 now, and it’s free to play.

Urban Trial Freestyle (PS3 and PS Vita – No Cross Buy)

20% off for PS Plus members (PS3 Version: Original price: $14.99; PS Plus Price: $11.99 PS Vita Version: Original price: $9.99; PS Plus Price: $7.99)

Urban Trial Freestyle challenges players to push their risk-taking to the absolute limits and deliver maximum stunt rewards. The game`s nonstop action is complemented by a host of features including multiple game modes, leader boards, rider and bike customization, and much more. With slick urban detailed graphics and an innovative physics engine fine-tuned for fun pick-up and play, the game has been specifically engineered to get the most out of both PS3 and PS Vita versions.Learn more about the game from the PlayStation Blog’s coverage and download it this week!

What’s your favorite content from this week’s PS Plus update? What was your favorite content from January’s PS Plus offerings?

Don’t forget about the upcoming Dungeon Defenders PS3 Community XP event as well! The game is still free for PS Plus members. Click here to learn more on how to sign up for this event!

Lastly, if you haven’t downloaded Retro City Rampage or PAYDAY: The Heist, today is the last day they will be free in PS Plus; same goes for the Critter Crunch, Derrick the Deathfin and Karateka discounts.

Let us know your feedback on PlayStation Plus in the comments below, and don’t forget to use the poll links to speak your mind about what content you liked the most. If you want to see what the rest of the PlayStation community is talking about, head over to the PlayStation Community Forums in the PS Plus space to continue chatting about PS Plus, or find other topics to contribute your thoughts to, or start one for yourself. See you in the comments!

Madcap shooter Vanquish is sliding its way onto PlayStation Network in next week's update. As revealed in this week's PlayStation Blogcast, Platinum Games' 2010 helping of robot-armored carnage will be available as a PS3 download on November 6. The podcast didn't disclose a price, but for reference it's currently on Xbox Live Marketplace at $19.99.

Also confirmed for PSN next week is Portal 2, as indicated by yesterday's news about the Move-based In Motion DLC. The full game is coming with built-in Move support, which also arrives as a patch for retail copies.

Welcome back, everyone!

I’ve been dumping Worth Reading material into a digital notebook for the last few weeks, and we’re filled to the brim with stuff today. I still have a dozen or so links that I didn’t even get to, and maybe some of those games and pieces wil sneak back in next Friday.

I mentioned this on the podcast, but I just wanted to take another moment and thank the Giant Bomb community for their support over the past month and change. Few people go through an experience like mine and feel as though they have the backing of thousands. Your comments made me stronger, and this thread was bookmarked on my phone for a solid week, a source of comfort.

It’s been a bittersweet ride, and one I’m hoping to encapsulate in words soon. As a writer, catharsis tends to come from expressing yourself in the medium you spend the most time in. I’ll get there.

Thanks.

Hey, You Should Play This

• Zenith (PC, Mac / Free) by Jacob Knipfing, Tom Astle, Sylvia Forrest, Tom Lanciani, Evan Gonzalez, Dan Spaulding -- www.arcanekids.com

With the high-definition tweaking of Jet Set Radio on the horizon, I’ve got buzzin’ around on skates on the brain, and the student-made Zenith is an interesting distraction. I’m not sure how I feel about the dude with the big, wacky arms, but after playing Vanquish and Gravity Daze rather close to one another, I’m reminded how much fun a game based solely around movement can be. You can play Zenith with a keyboard and mouse but it’s not recommended--plug in an Xbox 360 controller. Coming to grips with wall jumping is a little tricky, but whereas Jet Set Radio keeps players relatively grounded, Zenith releases the constraints of gravity, and you’ll be flying high. Freedom feels good.

• Asylum (PC, Mac / Demo) by Senscape -- www.facethehorror.com

It’s satisfying to know my horror kick doesn’t have to end soon, since October is only a few weeks away. Senscape’s Scratches has been recommended in the past, and I’m more inclined to try it, given how impressive the interactive teaser for its next project is. Rather than just give players another trailer for the long-delayed Asylum, Senscape actually released a playable demo that doesn’t feature gameplay from the finished product, but gives a strong sense of atmosphere. It’s a little jarring to be playing a first-person adventure that, at times, feels like a first-person shooter, but once you become adjusted to swapping screens, you’re quickly drawn into the world. An insane asylum is the perfect setting for a point-and-click adventure, a place of dread and madness that clicking will only make worse.

And You Should Read These

• "Unintimidated By Apple, Nintendo’s Boss Says The World Still Needs Dedicated Gaming Handhelds" by Stephen Totilo for Kotaku

With Nintendo likely revealing the final launch details regarding Wii U in New York next month and everyone’s focus squarely on whether Wii U has a chance in hell at replicating the success of Wii, it’s easy to forget how much trouble the 3DS was in not so long ago. Kotaku’s Stephen Totilo recently sat down with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata to extensively discuss the hurdles facing the 3DS going forward, and I’m surprisingly inclined to agree with Iwata’s optimistic assessment about the future of dedicated handhelds, especially ones produced by Nintendo. The big caveat? Nintendo has not produced the same level of innovative software that made DS catch mainstream eyeballs for 3DS, and that, more than anything, is what’s to blame for 3DS being able to catch fire, decent sales or not.

Iwata didn't let the presence of an Apple laptop and the iPhone do all of his talking. He never said the words "Apple" or "iPhone" or "Android," but when I pointed to my iPhone that was recording our interview and began asking him about why some people think that device is the future of portable gaming, he knew exactly what I was talking about. He knows people wonder about the long-term viability of dedicated gaming handhelds. He cited the arguments himself and proposed that there are people who argue that the period of gaming handhelds "has passed us by" due to the popularity of gaming on "a device that you're always going to be carrying with you at all times"—a phone. He knows that logic is what produces the doubts. "I don't think that opinion is completely nonsensical," he said.

• "Japanese Games Aren't Gibberish - Just Different" by Erlend Grefsrud for Edge

One of the reasons I’ve gone out of my way to play a game like Dragon’s Dogma (which I wound up enjoying) or spent an afternoon with a three-hour 8-4 Play podcast about Monster Hunter (which I still don’t care for) is a desire to better understand the games outside of my usual comfort zone. You may not care for the Japanese aesthetic or approach to design (see: Team Ninja's recent confusing and questionable comments about portraying women in Dead or Alive 5), but there are plenty of people who do enjoy them, so there must be something there. Uncomfortable experiences are a healthy deviation from the norm, whether it’s surviving a nightmare like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, or violating a personal one-hour rule for having fun to give an unorthodox game a longer, closer look.

This cultural chauvinism has reached the point where western game designers feel the need to pontificate about the apparently objective failure of Japanese game developers to design games and tell stories. Nonsense: Japanese game design is valid in entirely the same way as Japanese storytelling and visual art tradition is valid, founded on a very separate range of aesthetic ideals that share few parallels with the Western cultural traditions.

If You Click This, It Will Play

I Don’t Know About This Kickstarter Thing, But These Projects Seem Pretty Cool

• It doesn't seem that David Crane's pitch for a new adventure game is going much of anywhere.
• I haven't seriously played an RTS since the era of Total Annihilation, so I can get behind Planetary Annihilation.
• Because we need more games from the developers of Wizorb, I fully support Mercenary Kings.
• Walking around a haunted house with a camera is an interesting concept in Paranormal.

Oh, And This Other Stuff

• I'm hoping for more details on Wii U's eShop next month, which some developers are cautiously optimistic about.
• Outside of a paragraph where reporter Dean Takahashi quotes someone who isn't a patent expert to provide an analysis of patents, this breakdown of OnLive's demise is well done. Curious to see if OnLine can recover.
• Slate's collected some pretty amazing reader mail from old issues of Nintendo Power.
• The New York Times weighs in on sexual harrassment in gaming communities, and mentions Cross Assault.
• A look at what it's like to run a sprawling, frantic blog like Kotaku on a daily basis.
• Changes to Japanese law have impacted the bottom line of several companies, including Gree.
• Veeeeeerry interesting that Republique's feedback apparently included comments about it being "too polished."
• With Zynga up against the ropes, is there a way to reform the company in time to save it?
• Unsurprising for an Obsidian game, but a whole bunch of stuff was cut from Fallout: New Vegas.
• If you've ever been curious about making pixel art, Pixel Edit (free!) seems like a good place to start.

#cliffbleszinski In an interesting interview published by Gamasutra on Friday, Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski gave some advice to Japanese developers: add more multiplayer. More »

#opinion A few weeks ago, the Atlantic magazine published a profile I wrote of the developer Jonathan Blow, a man known in gaming circles as much for his criticism of the mainstream game industry's intellectual shortcomings as he is for Braid, the outstanding game he created. More »

LA Noire for $19.99? Dead Space 2 for $12.99? Vanquish for just $9.99? If watching broadcast news wasn't enough to convince you that the US economy is down in the dumps, GameFly's impressive "Under $20" sale is here to hammer the point home.

Everything from the aforementioned trio of titles to Disney Epic Mickey (and many more) are currently available from GameFly's insane sale, all being offered with free shipping. The discounts expire on October 24, so we'd suggest you get on that -- if you're not too busy zipping around Gotham, of course.

For just $14 you can be running around in a fancy suit of robot armor, blasting away at soldiers and robots. Well, not you physically -- we're not sure we'd trust a $14 suit of robo-armor, ourselves -- but you, controlling Sam Gideon in the Xbox 360 version of Vanquish.

Newegg is offering the game for just $13.99, plus free shipping, to anyone interested in learning how to do the electric(ally assisted) slide, and firing entirely too much heavy weaponry into bosses' glowing weak points.

#comiccon2011 Square Enix does way more than just FInal Fantasy figures. They've got fantastic looking toys from other games—Metal Gear Solid, Street Fighter, Batman: Arkham City, Vanquish, Halo, God of War...—coming to their Play Arts Kai line. More »

Sega Sammy's consumer game division -- a.k.a. Sega games -- brought in ¥89.55 billion ($1.1 billion) in sales over the last fiscal year (ending March 31), down 26.5 percent from the previous year. Operating income declined even more sharply to ¥2 billion ($24.8 million), down 68.9 percent. While the previous fiscal year saw major success from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, this latest 2010-11 fiscal year was an off-year for the two Olympians, who were in training for their next competition.

Sonic's less sporting pastime, Sonic Colors, was the bestseller in Sega's lineup, moving 2.18 million copies worldwide. It was followed by ... Iron Man 2, which sold 1.54 million. Vanquish, which everyone without Stark Industries stock would agree is the better robot-suit game, only managed about half of that achievement at 830,000 units sold. Shogun 2: Total War and Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity (which only came out in Japan) rounded out Sega's "major" lineup with 600,000 and 370,000 copies sold, respectively.

Sega said that sales were slow in North America and Europe due to "the adverse market condition," noting "sluggish personal consumption" in those regions (which ... didn't seem to be an issue for everybody). Additionally, Sega's big Japanese release, Yakuza: Of the End, was delayed out of the fiscal year as a result of the Tohoku earthquake in March, further reducing the company's bottom line.

Overall, however, Sega Sammy about doubled its net profits from the previous year to ¥41.51 billion (roughly $513 million) on the strength of its pachislot and pachinko business.

Xbox Live's Games on Demand service gains several new games today. Most notable among the four titles is probably Vanquish, which can be had for a steep $40. DiRT 2 is also available for $30, while either Velvet Assassin or Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising can be had for $20.

Whether you realize it or not, you need more acrobatic, robot-suited DARPA agents in your life. Thanks to Amazon, you can now fill that void with new levels of cheapness -- you can now purchase Sega's sliding-centric shooter Vanquish for a cool, crisp, thirty-dollar bill.

#platinumgames Atsushi Inaba's credits are impressive. He's produced titles like Okami, Viewtiful Joe and, most recently, Vanquish. When he was young, he dreamed of becoming a game creator. Then his dad found out. More »

Sega Sammy's financial results for the nine months ending December 31, 2010 showed marked upswings in overall sales and profit for the company. While the majority of money came through its pachinko and amusement arm, game publishing saw ¥67.4 billion ($826 million) in revenue and ¥2.8 billion ($34.3 million) in profit -- both notable increases since the company's last check-in.

Hidden among the many, many financial numbers was news that Platinum Games' fourth effort, Vanquish, had sold 820,000 copies since its release in late October, while Sonic Colors had moved a whopping 1,850,000 by the end of 2010. That's alotta hedgehog! The majority of the company's overall sales took place in Europe (owing to sales of Football Manager 2011), with the US following closely behind and Japan in a distant third.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
This is my personal favorite game of 2010 for many reasons, all of which you can read in the review I wrote back in May. In a nutshell: It's the best Mario game ever -- in my opinion, but I've been told I'm not alone -- and can pretty much claim the title of best-ever platformer while it's at it. The experience is magical, the design is masterful and if there were one game I could be stranded on a desert island with ... well, this is it.

Vanquish
Shinji Mikami is still playing the game of Telephone he started in 2005. With Resident Evil 4, he revitalized Capcom's stagnant survival-horror franchise by turning it into a strictly paced shooter, where standing your ground (you couldn't move and shoot at the same time, remember?) was the only way to advance. The idea made it all the way across the ocean -- mostly intact -- and eventually found its way into Epic's Gears of War.

The Mikami-led team at Platinum Games, in turn, heard all the bits about military meatheads and enemies that can be demolished without remorse, but the part about lumbering man-tanks got garbled. Instead, we get a protagonist that can slide across the battlefield in the blink of an eye.

At its nuclear-powered core, Vanquish still honors Resident Evil 4's balance of risk and reward. It's an exceptionally hectic shooter where rocketing in and out of critical engagements is key -- but if your suit overheats, you're slow again. And then you're dead.

Even Gears of War's train level comes back a little warped. Now there are two trains, and one of them is upside-down.

#vanquish Sci-fi game Vanquish was originally inspired by a 1970s Japanese anime. It was also supposed to star a remote controlled robot. More »

In his final post on the Vanquish development blog, Shinji Mikami describes an early concept for Vanquish that was less "big action movie" and more anime. Instead of cigar-chompin' soldier Sam Gideon inside the suit, the original concept had the suit as a robot, remotely controlled by three different pilots. This was even before the robodog idea.

"The robot would change forms according to the pilot in charge," Mikami explained, "as each pilot had been specially trained in areas such as shooting, melee, or hover and snipe." The idea "died a quick death," but Mikami noted that he still likes it, and that ideas are "never out of bounds," sometimes appearing in sequels or other new game designs. "I don't know what I will be making next, but considering how fickle I am, it will probably end up being a game completely different from Vanquish." At the very least, he knows it'll be a triple-A game for THQ.

We know we're entering that time of year where you're not technically supposed to buy games for yourself but, rather, for your fellow man. Still, the upcoming wave of Amazon Lightning Deals is making it hard for us to not treat ourselves to a few discounted gems. In fact, Amazon's made it all the more difficult by accidentally revealing the identities and prices of all the offers therein, those monsters:

• 8:15 AM PST: Write your own epic story each time you play -- Civilization 5 (PC) for $29.99
• 10:15 AM PST: Suit up in this sci-fi shooter -- Vanquish (X360 or PS3) for $44.99
• 10:15 AM PST: The premier device in handheld gaming -- Nintendo DSi XL (Midnight Blue) for $139
• 1:15 PM PST: Customize your spy in this RPG/Shooter -- Alpha Protocol (X360 or PS3) for $29.99
• 4:15 PM PST: Don't forget to put your hands up -- Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum (PC) for $14.99

#shinjimikami Shinji Mikami is responsible for one of the most successful game franchises ever, horror series Resident Evil. It's not just the games that are scary. Mikami's own childhood sounds horrific. More »

#shinjimikami The director of great video games old (Resident Evil) and new (Vanquish) is going to get out of the business of directing games after his next unannounced title. Instead, famed creator Shinji Mikami will be focusing on things more presidential More »

#art Junkboy, the man to thank for 22 of the sweetest "demakes" we've seen all year, has a new piece up for lovers of Platinum Games' latest effort Vanquish. More »

Sega West president Mike Hayes wouldn't disclose specific Vanquish sales numbers to IGN, but he did offer some hesitant praise for the shooter's sales. "It's been in the marketplace for two days," Hayes said. "We've seen the day one numbers and we're reasonably encouraged, but I think we need to see the rest of week one and probably week two just to see how it's going to play out." He also noted that the new IP faces tough competition from established franchises (like Fallout: New Vegas, which launched the same day).

"Reasonably encouraged" from a game company executive is reasonably troubling for our estimation of Vanquish's fortunes. We tend to expect publishers to overhype their games' success. If "reasonably encouraged" is Sega's spin, that's not great news for fans of Shinji Mikami's unique brand of smoking, shooting action. Though, of course, that's better than "disappointed," "humiliated," or "driven out of business."

Sci-fi shooter finding a place this holiday.

This week's launch of Vanquish not only portends the imminent demise of thousands of robots, but represents the final shot in Sega's four-game publishing deal with Platinum Games. Speaking to Develop, Platinum's executive director, Atsushi Inaba, reflected on the agreement -- encompassing Bayonetta, Madworld, Infinite Space and Vanquish -- and the incentives offered by Sega.

"When we created Platinum Games, we of course talked to a lot of publishers, and Sega offered us the most freedom to develop games, he said. "I think the partnership has been great, and I'm really grateful for their support." Inaba considers the exchange, with ownership of four properties going towards creative freedom, a "fair deal." But what happens next? "For the future of our partnership, of course, it's not something that we alone can decide," Inaba said. "Sega has its stance, and we have ours, but if Sega asks us to make something we might take the offer."

Although Platinum has nothing "against the idea of making sequels," Inaba added, the company's long-term goal is to create new IP and retain ownership of it. "So as a studio we would like to do both [new IP and sequels], but the whole point of Platinum Games is to create our own IP, that's what we do."

With Platinum still growing and readjusting its relationship with Sega, the developer's critical acclaim will be compared to its uneven sales performance in any discussion. Selling over a million copies, Bayonetta has undoubtedly been the studio's biggest success thus far. If Sega intends to ask for a sequel, it'll know witch.

[Image: Platinum Games website]

#roundup Strap on your power armor, light up a cigarette, and join Sam Gideon as he attempts to kick the assembled video game critics in the face in the Vanquish Frankenreview. More »